Meter.



No. 855,473. Y PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

' A. H. MUALPINE.

METER.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1s, 1907.

ing 9, the hands 10 and dials -1'1 of the meter l cover S, sai

lformed at one side of the cap 6 and serves as a cup for tlie reception of sealing wax or like *UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

ADAM H. MCALPINE, or COLUMBUS, OHIO.

METER.

To n/ZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that-I, ADAM H. MCALPINE, a citizen of the United-States, residing at Columbus, in the county of 'Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use iul Improvements in Meters, of which the following isa specification.

My'invention relates to water meters and particularly to an improved locking and sealing mechanism between Cthe body portion of y the water meter and the ca which covers the registering mechanism, t e object of the invention being Ato provide a device of this character which may be locked in position in sucliinanner as to electually'prevent tampering with the meter registering mechanism.

Further objects and advantages ofthe invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

ln the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a water meter' constructed in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical section of said meter, Fig. 3 is 'a plan View of the meter illustrating a modiied form of the device, Fig. 4 is an inside elevation of a flange which is carried by the body portion of' the meter, Fig. 5 isan outside elevation of a portion of a modified forni of cap,V and, Fig. 6 is a detail section illustrating the modified form of the device.

lvlike numerals designate corresponding parts in all of vthe figures of the drawing.

eferring to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates the body portion of a water meter. The water meter proper forms no part of the present invention, said invention consisting particularly in the im roved method of locking a cap 6 to the bo y portion of the meter. This cap at'its upper end is cut away as at 7 for the rece 'tion of a heavy convex glass dP glass covering the meter registering mechanism which is inclosed in a casregistering mechanism being visible through said glass. The upper ledge of the cap 6'is spun over as at 12 to firmly en age the glass and hold it in position. The ower edge of the cap 6 carries ins 13 which are ada ted to engage in cani s ots 14 of a iange 15 oiJ the meter body 5. A recesseds extension 16 is material.

- The parts illustrated-in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 are substantially the same as thoseherenbefore Specification of Letters Patent.l Application iiled January 16, 1907. Serial No. 352,573.

material.

Patented June 4, 1907.

described and the same reference numerals have been applied to them, the'i'nodiiication .illustrated in this forni consisting of a flange are engaged in the cam slots 14, after whichsealing wax or like fusible material is poured in the cup 16 and enters the cam slot behind the pins to prevent the removal of the cap 6 land to consequently prevent tampering with the meter registering mechanism.

It has been found thatin many instances unscrupulous persons have removedthe caps of kthe water meters and have turned the hands of said meters back.. The seal herein.

shown and described prevents. this by indicating t'o the inspectors whether the meter has been tampered with.

It will be necessary at times to remove the cap 6 for the purpose of ma ing re airs to the meter, but these repairs are usua ly made at the Workeshop of a city water department.

When the meter has been removed to such work-shop, it is ossible by ap lying heat to the seal to melt t e material an permit retrograde movement of the cap.

In the form of the. device illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 the sealing material such as sealing-wax is poured into the cup'l after the cap has been forced down as far as possible, but before thc pins 13 are moved over into the cam slots. The iiange 17 at this time consequently lies a little to one side of the cup 16 to permit the entranceof the molten As soon as the cup is iilled with this molten material, the cap is given a slight turn to bring the pins into en agement .with theramslotsp after which t e material is allowed to harden. The heavy convex glass herein shown and described, serves several useful purposes. It provides a dead-air s ace between the lower face of the glass an the meter registering mechanism, which prevents sweating of the glass. It likewise magniiies the hands and' the dials, thus rendering the reading of themeter an easy matter.

Furthermore it is not as liable to breakage as the thin plane glasses IOO positions where the glasses are particularly liable to become broken and the provision of a heavy glass of this character is desirable, for even if this glass be broken, the parts are "heavy enough to remain in position instead of fallingr into and upon the hands of the registering mechanism. Y l i lrom the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple and eiicieiit means are herein provided for accomplisliingr the objects or the invention, but while the elements shown and described are Well 'adapted to serve the purposes for Which they are intend- 'ed,it is to be understood that' the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes Within itsA purview suoli changes as may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim, is:

l. The combination with the body portion of a meter, of a cap adapted to cover the registeriiipr mechanism of th'e meter, a bayonet joint between said body portion and said cap, and a cup adapted to receive a fusible material located'adjacent the bayonet joint.

2. rlibe combination with the body portion of a meter, of a cap adapted to cover the registeriiig mechanism of said meter, heavy convex glass Which formstlie top oi' said ealp, a bayonet joint between `the cap and t ie body portion of a'meter and a cup adapted to receive a fusible material which eommunicates With one oi the slots of the bayonet joint.

'3. The combination with tbe body portion 'seams of a Water meter, of an upstanding Hangs carried by said body portion, bayonet slots forniedin said u pstanding ange, a cap cari-.y-

ing pins which are adapted to engage in saidv 'bayonet slots7 and a cup adapted to receive a fusible material, said cup communicating' with one of said slots.

the combination with the' body portion oi a.

water meter, of an upstanding flange haring' bayonet slots Joriiied therein, a caj'iadapted to cover the registering mechanism oi a niet ei' y and carrying members adapted to engage in said bayonet slots, a cup adapted to receive a "fusible material which coniniui'iicatcs with one of said slots, and a flange carried by the cap which is adapted to overlie and cover the cup when the parts are in their assembled positions.

in testimony whereof li affix niy signature in presence'of two Witnesses` i ADAM ll. ll/CALPN.

Tl/vi7itnesses A! L. PnELPs, L. (CARL S'ioneiiroir. 

